2010 Subaru Forester Comfort & Quality

The 2010 Forester has a roomy interior that's good enough for four full-size adults, with the capability to fit three across in back in a pinch. The backseat folds flat, and the Forester has a lower cargo floor than some of the other vehicles in this class, lending a roomier feel and easier loading.

Cars.com points out the upgraded finishes in the cabin, calling the interior quality “good, if occasionally inconsistent...If you like silver plastic, your day has come.” But they complain about the “large floor hump [that] crowds foot room,” while “the CR-V and RAV4 have virtually flat floors.”

The 2010 Subaru Forester is hit and miss in this respect, with a spacious interior, a rather good ride, and great build quality but unimpressive materials.

Taking a closer look at its interior, most reviewers are happy with the amount of space. “Front-seat passengers enjoy plenty of leg- and headroom,” Edmunds.com reports, while “the rear seat has far more legroom as well, and the doors open to nearly 75 degrees.” Popular Mechanics disagrees with that number, saying that “the rear doors finally open a full 90 degrees.” They also note that a redesigned rear suspension setup “allows for a flatter cargo area” that can haul 4,590 granola bars—which TheCarConnection.com’s editors witnessed in person at a recent press event. “A side benefit from that new rear suspension is a smoother, more controlled ride,” Car and Driver adds.

One feature that most would miss brings one of the vehicle’s biggest benefits. First seen on the 2009 model, the 2010 Subaru Forester also gets side windows with their own frames. While this may appear insignificant, Road & Track observes that the 2010 Subaru Forester is “much quieter inside, thanks in part to door windows that now have their own outer frames.” Cars.com says, “It's not as quiet as a Honda CR-V, but it's a distinct improvement over the previous Forester,” while Automobile Magazine agrees that “the car seems a lot quieter on the freeway.”

Another plus: The Forester has 8.7 inches of ground clearance—especially useful for negotiating deep snow or climbing up a modest trail to a camping spot.